Who has been to Aruba?

AydenLincoln · Jan 2, 2026

I’m so excited. I leave Sunday! I’m going diving and snorkeling and I can’t wait. I really want to see a Hewbie in the wild although they are not as common in Aruba. I made extra water and went over everything with the person caring for my fish. Fingers crossed it all goes well and nothing catastrophic happens when I’m gone. If you have been to Aruba! Share photos! What fish/coral that you could recognize did you see? I will be sure to share photos here as I bought an underwater camera.

Jungle Blue · Jan 3, 2026

Sea Turtles (Tres Trapis in the morning) :3
Lots of small fish, schools tho. Take one of those snorkeling boat rides.
Reef-safe sunscreen, the breeze will hide the sizzle

kevgib67 · Jan 3, 2026

I like the shallow reef snorkeling but snorkeling the German freighter that was sunk during WWII was cool, much larger fish. I didn’t have an underwater camera like later trips to the Caribbean. The shallow reef has what you would expect to see, beautiful. Although in the upper 80’s you never feel hot due to the constant strong breeze. Heed @Jungle Blue ’s advice. Have fun, you’ll love it.

Paul B · Jan 3, 2026

I dove in Aruba a few times but it was many years ago and to me anyway, all the Caribbean Islands merge together in my mind so I can 't remember what I saw where.

It is always very windy there, as was said so at the bars, they often have to put a brick next to your drink, so it doesn't blow off the bar.

It is a pretty Island but much different than all the other Islands near there. It is a desert, Saguaro Cactuses and all. Very little vegetation except DiviDivi trees.

WE rented motorcycles there as there are "gold rendering" ruins on the other side of the Island which is nice.

I remember all the Red Copper Sweepers fish under overhangs near the beaches. I'm surprised I never saw them for sale as they look like red freshwater hatchet fish.

Have fun.

robanister · Jan 3, 2026

Lots to see if you snorkle at the divi hotel

AydenLincoln · Jan 3, 2026

Pray I get to Aruba tomorrow and they open airspace back up! I’m going to cry if my flight is cancelled.

kynan · Jan 3, 2026

Just temper your expectations as to seeing any vibrant hard coral. Stony Coral Tissue Disease has effectively destroyed most of the hard corals in the Caribbean since 2014. Been diving the area since 1987, and for dive trips from now on I’m heading to Micronesia and Indonesia.

TheNative192 · Jan 3, 2026

I actually was in Aruba for Thanksgiving. The scuba diving was great and there was some fish & a bit of corals. You do want to go Scuba Diving if you want to see a lot more corals though. The ship is cool to scuba dive or snorkel but not much corals there. Super secret tip. Bring some bread rolls & stuff it into your pockets. I brought like 7 bred rolls and I would take some out & the fish would go crazy for it lol. The amount of tangs that are there is insane as well and some of them are massive. Also be careful of the trigger fish lol

Paul B · Jan 4, 2026

You should bring Hewbie with you. Maybe he can meet some of his old friends.

AydenLincoln · Jan 4, 2026

Paul B said:
You should bring Hewbie with you. Maybe he can meet some of his old friends.

Hewbie is not an Arubian or Caribbean native lol! He was found on the other and is Costa Rican born and raised in the Pacific Ocean. True story! I was able to ask the distributor the country and region he was from!